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Following a historic 2018 primary campaign for U.S. Senate on progressive issues, policies, and solutions, supporters of our campaign have asked whether and when I will seek office again.

John Cornyn and many of our other elected representatives continue to maintain a status quo which leaves millions in systemic poverty, without healthcare, secure jobs, affordable housing, or savings for our future. Our campaign earned 24% of the Democratic vote on a platform of reform. Across the nation, voters have elected grassroots candidates running on the same platform. Still, the parties refuse to hear voters’ demands. Together we have remained active, calling for the end of the war economy, systemic racism, dependence on the fossil fuel industry and organizing to end poverty.

I worked in healthcare for 6 years, I have witnessed the flaws in our healthcare system, something most politicians have not. My experiences in a system which favors the wealthy and multinational businesses inspired me to become a human rights advocate, activist and organizer in the Houston area. I am a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and fully support the DSA platform and DSA values. Before joining my local chapter of the organization, I contributed to the drafting of resolutions for the DSA platform.

I am the daughter of immigrants, the oldest of 7 siblings, and the first American-born child in my family. The sacrifices my parents and grandparents made fueled my run for the U.S. Senate. I grew up in a migrant working family, and I understand the struggles of people burdened by crushing debt, absence of job security, and lack of healthcare coverage.

In order to prepare for the 2020 U.S. Senate race to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, I am asking for your pledge of support. If you would like to continue the campaign we began to bring real reform to our government and make it work for the working class, then please let me know with your commitment.

In Solidarity,

Sema Hernandez

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Recent endorsements

“Sema knows that true progress requires that everyone have healthcare and a living wage.”

“Sema is Texas' best hope at getting a Progressive politician into office, and reversing the decades of damage done by Senators for Texas like Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. We need to send a message to the Washington Elite that Texas is not a safe bet any longer, and Progressive Populists can and will challenge the status quo.”

HOUSTON, Texas -- Senate Candidate Sema Hernandez has called on Sen.
John Cornyn to retract his quote of deceased fascist Benito Mussolini,
which is reflective of Mr. Cornyn’s past support of restricting the
rights of individuals.

On February 24, 2019, Sen. Cornyn issued the following quote on Twitter:

“‘We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms
assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the
individual must become.’ Benito Mussolini.”

In 2017, the senator co-sponsored and later voted for a bill to
reauthorize a warrantless spying on US citizens as part of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act. He voted numerous times to strip US
citizens of their access to healthcare by a repeal of the Affordable
Care Act. In recent weeks, Sen. Cornyn called for a coup to overturn the
election in Venezuela, disregard the votes of the people of Venezuela,
and replace the elected President with a politician who refused to put
his name on the ballot.

Ms. Hernandez rejects each of these actions as an obstruction of the
rights of sovereign individuals, not unlike the laws Mussolini imposed
on Italy during WWII. Mr. Cornyn’s apparent admiration for the fascist
Mussolini is an affront to the U.S. Constitution and to the rights of
Texans and all who reside in the United States and its Territories.

In September 2018, Sema Hernandez declared her candidacy to challenge
Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in the U.S. Congress. Conditions
for working Texas families have worsened over the past several decades. A
worldwide humanitarian crisis caused by decades of US military
intervention, failed regime change, economic sanctions, and trade deals
has forced refugees to seek asylum at our borders. It is time for
change.

In places around the World, it's more of the same, if not much worse. Everyone feels the effects of global warming. We are witnessing a mass migration of refugees, due in part to the climate crisis which causes water and food scarcity, poverty, and famine.

Our 2018 campaign was groundbreaking and we're just getting started. We will continue to be boldly progressive and unapologetically human. We will continue to talk about the issues that are important, have necessary conversations, organize and strategize to not only win this upcoming election, but to reform the political system to prioritize people over corporate interest.

Senator John Cornyn is among the Republican men on the Senate Judiciary Committee who voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. It should come as no surprise that, despite new and controversial evidence about nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Mr. Cornyn has dismissed women’s accounts of sexual molestation by Kavanaugh as nothing more than “smear tactics”. His actions reflect a deliberate disregard for women’s safety and rights.

After weeks of refusing to release Kavanaugh’s files, Sen. Cornyn now has joined his Republican colleagues in intimidating and discrediting Kavanaugh’s accusers before they have an opportunity to testify at his confirmation hearing about their traumatic experiences. The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote for Friday, September 28, 2018, regardless of whether the women’s testimony warrants further investigation. Sen. Mitch McConnell has stated that the Republicans will confirm Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court.

Sen. Cornyn was a former Texas Supreme Court Judge and Attorney General of Texas, where the public entrusted him to exercise independent judgment and to protect victims’ rights. Cornyn’s predisposition to fast track the Kavanaugh confirmation for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, even before hearing witnesses’ testimony, is a violation of the voters’ trust in electing him to the Senate.

Republican Senators have no regard for our rights from healthcare to women's rights. The Kavanaugh Confirmation process has been an overt and willful rubber-stamp, disrespectful of constituents, democracy, and the Constitution.

Here’s what’s at stake if Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed as SCOTUS:

Healthcare

Reproductive Justice

Human Rights

Education

Immigration

Marriage Equality

Labor Rights

Environmental Laws

Tribal Sovereignty

Democracy

It is difficult to remove bad politicians from office when they are heavily-funded by organizations and influential donors who are committed to restricting our personal rights and liberties. Our campaign to replace Senator John Cornyn in 2020 has begun, but we need your help and support to win. Please visit our website and let us know if you’re available to volunteer. It's never too early to make a donation to our campaign to ensure that your rights are protected.

Show your support for this campaign by endorsing it and sharing why!

Thank you for endorsing this campaign!

Recent endorsements

“Sema knows that true progress requires that everyone have healthcare and a living wage.”

“Sema is Texas' best hope at getting a Progressive politician into office, and reversing the decades of damage done by Senators for Texas like Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. We need to send a message to the Washington Elite that Texas is not a safe bet any longer, and Progressive Populists can and will challenge the status quo.”

“I endorse Sema Hernández because of her commitment to a Progressive platform in line with the Democratic Socialists of America. Let's make her the @AOC of the US Senate!!”

“The real deal.”

“Sema Hernandez believes that the People are to be represented by the government, not Corporations, profits and kickbacks.
She has a Policy base platform that accomplishes economic freedom through a responsible, human rights driven society. No fluff, no platitudes, real issue resolution. #Sema2020”

“Sema is a real progressive who fights every day for the people. She has dedicated herself to helping others, and I’m proud fo call her my friend!”

“I support Sema for Texas because she stands with working class Americans and she is inclusive, listens to the needs of Americans, works toward solving problems for all without blaming and lives the struggle.”

“I endorse Sema because Sema is the ultimate fighter for the people”

“Sema is a true progressive and will work tirelessly for Texans”

“I hate our huge military budget. I see homeless people & know we can shelter all of them well if we stop wasting money on the military.
We should employ people to build homes not to build weapons & cause destruction in foreign nations.
I believe Sema will provide the leadership this country will require to shelter those in need.”